Reclining chair



Dec. 3,

c. a. amon RECLINING CHAIR Filed March 31, 1928 INVENTOR. C. B. RECTQR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNlTEU STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLINING CHAIR Application filed March 31, 1928.

The invention relates to an improved chair of the reclining back type.

An. object of the invention is to provide a chair of the type described in which the back normally erect and is arranged to be swung to a position for the reclining of an occupant in the chair by and upon the leaning back of the occupant thereagainst.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair of the class described having a footand leg rest arranged to be variably positioned in accordance with the disposal of the chair back.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair of the class described which is so constructed that a swinging back of the back thereof is increasingly resisted as the reclining position of the back is approachech such being effected without the use of springs or similar appliances.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a chair of the character described which is of extremely simple structure and is adapted for a wide variety of uses.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the draw ings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and ClGSCllPtlOIl may be adopted within the scope of the 1nvent1on as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the chair with the back thereof in erect position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the chair with the back thereof in reclining position.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the chair with the adjustable parts thereof in an intermediate position.

Essentially, and as shown, the chair of my invention comprises a base portion 4 having rigidly related parts and including side frames 5 on which the remaining chair portions are carried. The chair seat 6 is carried by and between the frames 5 in suspended Serial No. 266,201.

relation thereto on members 7 and 8 pivoted to the side edges 9 of the seat adjacent the forward and rear seat edges respectively by means of pivot members 11 and 12, and the members 7 and 8 are in turn pivoted to the frames 5 at points thereof above the pivot-s 11 and 12 by means of pivot members 13 and lt respectively. In this manner, the portions of the members 7 between the pivots 11 and 13, and the portion of the members 8 between the pivots 12 and 1 1 function as suspension links for the seat, it being noted that the lines of the pivots 11 and 13 are substantially parallel to the lines of the pivots 12 and 1 1 whereby the seat may swing between the frames 5.

It will now be noted that the members 8 extend upwardly from the pivots 14 to cooperatively provide side rails for a back 16 for the chair, and that when said back is in erect position, as shown in Figure 1, the supporting links are arranged to be disposed not far from the vertical. Under these conditions, a person sitting on the seat 6 and leaning against the back 16 is enabled to thereby effect a rearward swinging of the back 16, such movement of the back effecting a slight raising of the seat though the occupants center of gravity is arranged to lower slightly as the back swings down. It will be clear that the seat will be moved forwardly, as well as up wardly, as the back is lowered without materially changing the inclination of the seat.

When a person reclining in the chair raises up to relieve the chair back of more or less of his full weight thereon, the chair back will tend to rise, it being noted that the raising of the chair back is etfectedprimarily on account of the weight of the occupant on the chair seat. In this manner, the chair is arranged to automaticaly set itself in accordance with the position of a persons body therein and a minimum of effort is required on the part of an occupant for disposing the chair in or between its extreme positions.

In order to accomplish the foregoing, certain relations have been found desirable be tween the chair parts. Thus, as has been previously pointed out, the lines oining pivots 11 and 13 are substantially parallel to tween the pivots 12"and14 whereby'the figure defined by the four pivot points is not av parallelogram and approximates a trapezoid. In this manner, a distortion ofthis figure occasioned by the swinging back of the chair back tends to change the angular relation of the-members 7 and. 8*. Means are provided for resisting said. angular change, such means comprising 'a-link 17 connected. between the.

mmembers/Y: and8rabove the pivots 13 and 14: and in nearly: parallel relation to the lines of saidpivots. Preferably,.and as shown,.the-. pivotpoints of the:link.17 cooperatewith the pivots 1:3 andlieto'define aparallogram. In mithismanner; as swinging back of the. chair. back is increasingly; resisted, whereby, when the back:assumes theposition shown in Fig 'ure 2, its further movement is substantially V stoppedfbypsuch resistance, itbei'ng noted that Rthe.:various:pivotahconnections.are such asto permit this degree ofdistortion.v

The links 117 are: also. arrangedto provide a positively actingz'stoprmeans for limiting the lowering. of the-back 16', and saidlinks' are accordinglyisoidisposedand dimensioned that when the back'l6 is in .lowered position they engage stops 18 provided: byitheupper'end'of the frame part'Q i'. Preferably, and as shown,

I arm rests19 are mounted on the upper side "of the links 17.

continued downwardly from the pivotpoints 11 thereof and are provided at their bottom extremities with a fo'ot' r estmember 21 which 535 joins them and is so related to them that when thechair" backds-up, as in Figure 1, it will' engage and rest" on the supporting surface for the chair:v The integra-lassociation with 5 the'memberTof the foot rest thus provided,

mginovementof the latteras the-back-16 is swung backwardly; with the members-Tand 8 maintainingltheir substantially parallel relation. A cross member=22 connectsthe mem-- bers 7 above the foot rest 21 wherebya support is providd for an -occupants legs when the chair back is-i'n recliningpo'sition.

willnow be noted tli at the-side frames 5' m-aya beof any desiredstructuree In the present'embodiment, these frames are formed In" this manner, an' over straining of the'members and pivot's forming it will henoted', provides for aforward swingwith intersecting members 23 and 24: fixed together at their intersection and arranged to receive the pivots 13 and 14 at their upper end. The lower, or floor engaging, extremities of the members 23 and 24 may directly engage a supporting surface, or may carry rollers 26 for the purpose as shown. The upper ends of the members 2 1, in the present instance also provide the stops 18, and the frames are held in fixed relation by means of a tie member-26 andthe seat (5. It will be noted,.however, that any means providing a support for the pivots 13 and 14 in proper relationis .intendedrtoicome within the scope of the present invention, particular attention being called-to the possibility of the installation of the adjustable chair portions between relatively fixed supports, as in avehicle. And it will be furthermore noted that the back and foot rest structures may vary appreciably from the. structures shown without departing from the spirit of the present invention, though their formation to include portions of the members 7 and 8 as shown is a preferred structure, since the number of parts required in fabricating'the chair is thereby reduced to a minimum. Obviously, too, chair may be constructed in various sizes.

I. claim:

1.111 a chair, spaced side frames, a seat, forward and rear links operative to support said seat from and between said frames in suspended and swinging relation, said links.

being substantially parallel and the forward links being measurably longer than the rear links, and means maintaining said links in said substantiallyparallel relation during a swinging of said seat.

2. In a chair, spaced sideframes', a seat, forward and rear links operative to support said seat from and between said frames in suspended and swinging relation, said links beingsubstantially parallel and the forward links being measurably longer than the rear links,- and a member pivotally connected between the front and rear links at a side of the seat'operative to resist a swinging of said seat and cooperative with the frame at said side to limit the backward displacement of said chair back.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Oakland, California, this 24th day of March, 1928.

CLARENCE B. RECTOR. 

